, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of Culture, Media and Sport spoke at the Labour Party
conference.
Conference, it’s wonderful to be together again in Liverpool.
A city steeped in culture, bustling with creative people and
world-class sports teams.
On Saturday, I went to Anfield and paid my respects to the
Hillsborough 97.
That decades-long fight for justice is a reminder of the power of
sport and the people of this city.
Liverpool, we stand with you and are proud to be here.
Conference, creativity is one of Britain’s greatest strengths.
We sing spectacular songs, write spell-binding stories and make
first-rate films.
Our sports teams lift us up.
Our games industry immerses us in other worlds.
Creativity brings us joy; it enriches our lives.
This, in and of itself, makes the creative industries worth their
weight in gold.
But their value goes beyond that.
Successful creative industries are crucial to growing our
economy.
They will provide the great jobs of the future.
But to do them, our children will need the necessary skills.
So I’m working with on Labour’s creative
curriculum. To bring the best music, art, sport and drama to
every child.
Because every child’s talent matters.
Creative businesses can revitalise our communities and our high
streets.
They boost brand Britain, selling our talent and originality
around the world.
But friends, they’re being held back.
You only have to look at that shambles they called a conference
last week to see that Tories spend more time talking about
culture wars than culture.
Imagine the possibilities for the creative industries if they had
a national champion squarely in their corner fighting for them.
Conference, that champion is the next Labour government.
We’ll make sure everyone has the opportunity to share in that
success.
It starts with asking tough questions.
How do we all share in the joy and the jobs?
Where are the women?
Where are the people of colour?
Where are the people from working class communities?
Because we’re all better off when we draw on everyone’s talents.
That’s the Labour way, that’s who we are.
But for everyone to feel the benefits, we need the right creative
spaces in the right places.
Across our rural areas and towns as well as in our cities.
In the North and the South.
As bedrocks of our communities bringing life back to our high
streets.
More studios, animation and gaming workshops, art centres, pub
theatres, music venues, cinemas, nightclubs, right across the
country.
Because culture should be for everyone.
No matter who you are or where you live.
Conference, under the next Labour Government, it will be.
So today I’m announcing that the next Labour Government will
bring forward ‘Space to Create,’ the first National Cultural
Infrastructure Plan.
Labour’s plan to fire up the engines of our creative economy.
We’ll build on the work of those fantastic Labour mayors who have
put creative space at the heart of their growth plans and
succeeded even under the Tories.
Imagine what they could do under Labour.
A National Cultural Infrastructure Map so local leaders,
businesses and philanthropists are better able to spot cultural
spaces at risk and opportunities for investment and development.
Space to Create teams around the country.
Providing guidance, training, learning, and networking to get
creative businesses on a stronger footing.
Creative industries, backed by the next Labour Government, right
at the heart of our plan for economic growth, where they belong.
Shouting loud and proud about the joy they bring.
It is what makes us human. It makes life worth living.
Conference, let us turn the page on 13 years of Tory government
and together paint, perform, film, sing, dance, design and write
a new more prosperous and joyous story for Britain.
